The Division One leaders were asked to bat first upon their arrival at Ashlyns Road, and the decision was justified when Sudbury’s openers Tom Huggins (seven) and Nathan Poole (four) fell in quick succession to leave the score at 11-2.

Sudbury recovered steadily courtesy of a 132 run partnership from Adam Mansfield and Hosein, who batted both patiently and sensibly.

The duo capitalised on any bad bowling and gradually increased the run rate from three an over to five an over, before Mansfield (47) edged behind to depart just short of the half century mark.

Hosein then built important partnerships with James O’Brien (32) and Ben Reece (30), with both being allowed to post scores around the 30 mark in quick succession.

The innings of Sudbury’s new player-coach ended when he was caught in the deep by Shayne Moseley for 115, securing his maiden century for the Talbots which included 13 fours and two sixes.

James Poulson added a quick-fire 14 not out at the death with Sudbury finishing on 266-6 from their 50 overs.

Frinton’s run chase started well for the title challengers, as Billy Moulton-Day continued his successful season to trap opener Moseley for LBW with a ferocious in-swinging Yorker in the very first ball of the innings.

The home side recovered and looked to build the score, but tight bowling from off-spinner Huggins and seamer Jonny Gallagher helped restrict Frinton to 60 from the first 20 overs of their innings.

Huggins and Hosein then took a barrage of wickets to restrict Frinton to 125-5, and after a few small partnerships towards the end of the innings, the hosts were bowled all out for 197 in the last over.

Gallagher took two wickets in two balls to finish with figures of 2-27, while the pick of the Sudbury bowlers was Hosein with 4-27.

Moulton-Day (2-15), Huggins (1-43) and Poole (1-28) also found success as the Talbots continued to spread the wickets around.

Frinton’s only real resistance in the run chase came from opener Joe Fowler, who reached 58 before being caught by Reece off the bowling of Hosein.

Jermaine Shillingford scored 44 runs when he came into the crease at number seven, which ended when caught out by Kenny Moulton-Day.

It was Sudbury’s sixth consecutive victory since their surprise home defeat to Mistley back at the end of June, with their lead at the top of Division One still at 12 points with just five games of the Two Counties Championship season to go.